I've been slacking from blogging lately, but life with Taiyo is never uneventful. And thing he says these days! This morning when he saw an arrangement someone made with his toys on the counter in the restaurant. "Kitty holding a kazoo. That's funny." Last week we took a nice ride along the river. "What's that building?" He points across the river. "That's an old sugar factory." "I see. How about that one?" "I don't know. A warehouse, maybe?" "It looks like a big supermarket," he said. The other day he held a small rectangular frame that came in his Play-Doh set. "This is my iPhone." He wants a violin, a flute, and marimba. His loud screams, big smiles, and various dance moves are recognized around the neighborhood. He gets lots of pictures taken by strangers and sometimes I wonder where they are. Oh, yes, he's fabulous. He's an amazing two-year-and-eight-month-old. Yet he's still a normal two-year-and-eight-month-old. He's making a very slow potty training progress. He can do it time to time, but overall, refusing to cooperate. He may do it only when he's offered a piece of chocolate or a new toy. His doctor told me at his check-up two months ago. "Boys are always later to be potty trained than girls. It's Y-chromosome. They are emotionally less mature." Oh, boy. Don't all of us women know that men are hardly emotionally mature ever! And I can see in the way Taiyo plainly refuses to drop the diaper and put on an underwear, that if men are left alone they would gladly stay in diapers until 35 or so then say, "Gee, maybe I'm getting a bit old for a diaper." And I still can't help but to ask him in the morning, "Do you want to go pee?" And he says, "I'll pee tomorrow."

Yesterday, as our Mother's Day tradition, we spent a day at Bronx Zoo. On this sunny early summer day, the park was full of happy families. We rode the monorail, and saw elephants, rhinos, a tiger, and various deers and wild horses. Around the park we saw zebras, bears, giraffes, and bison. At the butterfly house he turned into one. As we waited in line for carousel, his mind was set for a red ladybug. When the gate opened for us, he ran straight for it and got on. I rode on a yellow caterpillar next to him. We lunched with peacocks who meowed like cats, and before we left the park, he made sure that goats were fed. I don't think I've ever enjoyed going to a zoo as much as I do now.

Last Saturday when his beloved babysitter Seiko was leaving, Taiyo wanted to go home with her. Although both Seiko and I were giving him the idea of sleeping over at her house in the past, he always said no. But suddenly he really wanted to go with her clinging on her. We felt unprepared, so Seiko quietly left that evening. But this afternoon when she walked in he shouted, "I want to go to your house! I want to! I want to!" "You're not going to cry for mommy?" "No! I want to go! I want to go!" We were skeptical, but I packed up his bag and she took him to her place in Brooklyn. So first time ever he was born, I came home alone to my quiet apartment. My cat is not even here. Seiko sent me a text at midnight that he was sleeping. My bed is going to feel so big tonight.

April went so quickly! I finally ended almost four full months of cooking class series. I've done so many sushi classes this year and I joke that I'll turn into SOY Sushi School. And yes, our vacation story has been a great joke for everyone who asked about it. The other day, Taiyo conversed with Peter who came for lunch. "How was your vacation?" "Not good." "Did you like airplane?" "No. I like subway." "Was there anything you liked about the airplane?" "... Orange juice."

Yesterday we went to check out a new pizzeria Via Tribunali on Ludlow Street. Taiyo liked the sight of the fire of the brick oven, but initially he refused to go in. "Ok. We can go to our usual joint." But two blocks away when we crossed Essex, somehow he changed his mind, and told me to go back. By the time we went back, the small dining room was getting filled up. We were able to secure our table by the door where they left the windows wide open. He really liked the setting, although he couldn't see the oven. The bench at the open window was the perfect stage for him. He immediately began to jump around, dance around, and play his newly acquired kazoo to the audience inside and out. Margherita pizza was very nice, with very thin crust, which he ate most of it. He was still standing on his stage through his meal, but surprisingly he didn't get his clothes dirty at all! Service was also nice and friendly, and it was another good dining experience. Although the space is small and not very accommodating to a stroller, but fairly recommended.

Last weekend, Taiyo and I went on our first vacation out of this island to another island, Bermuda. It was his first flight, our first real away from home vacation alone, and of course I was pretty nervous about it. I picked a close destination and a short trip, only three nights. All my friends were so happy for us and said, "Oh, you're going to have a good time." Well.. did we?

Taiyo doesn't like taxi, so I packed light and took subway to JFK. He fell asleep by the time we got to Air Train. At the security check point, they made me pick him up, and told me to fold the stroller to run through the scanner. It was a difficult task and nobody gave me a hand. I was already discouraged about the trip. While gathering my stuff Taiyo woke up, of course cranky with only half hour nap. We circled around the terminal three times before finally settling for a sandwich at the cafeteria. He was then excited to see the airplanes at the gate, and jumped around to amuse other travelers. Aboard the plane, we luckily had the row of three seats to ourselves, but he refused to sit by the window, complaining the harsh reflection of the sun because we were right next to the wing. Then of course he didn't want to sit and wear seatbelt. Forty minutes later finally we took off and by the time the seatbelt sign went off I just let him be. He was jumping around the isle, talking constantly, sometimes stretched on the floor, amusing some passengers. Then mean old lady stewardess came over and went "Shhhhhhh...!" right into his face. He went, "La la lala la, la..." shaking his hips, right back to her face. I decided I didn't like American Airlines. He wasn't even very loud. He was just being a two-year old. Anyway, we landed, made it to the hotel, and he was at least impressed with the big TV. He jumped around the room and the next door a baby (or more like a toddler) was crying. This happened to be the noisiest room I've stayed in- if the kid wasn't crying, adults were talking loudly. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was on some movie channel, and of course he had to watch his favorite movie.

Next day we went down to the beautiful little beach. Taiyo enjoyed destroying someone else's sand castle. Then he enjoyed hanging around the beach cabana bar having smoothie. I also wanted to enjoy swimming pools at the hotel but he refused to go. Then we had dinner at an Italian restaurant at the hotel, where he received very warm welcome. He was cranky after a short nap, but the view of ducks walking across the golf course outside helped. I thought the day went relatively well but back at the hotel room he said, "Let's go home and have an orange." Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was on TV again and of course he had to watch his favorite movie again.

Next morning he's quite cranky and broke down at the breakfast buffet. Eventually a few blueberry muffins put him back to a better mood. We took a ferry ride into the city of Hamilton, then first we had to go buy some diapers since I realized I packed just a few short. And to my surprise they didn't sell any at the hotel, although they claim to be a family resort. At the supermarket they had only Huggies, no Pampers. Taiyo said, "I don't like it." "But this is the only thing they have, look!" Oh, yes I've been hating this vacation, as much as he has! Then the chatty driver took us to the cute aquarium and zoo, which was nothing impressive compared to the NYC zoos and aquarium he frequents, but he loved a little playground there, which gave me a few minutes of relief. He faded in my arms on the ride back to the city. I circled around the touristy shopping area, waiting for the restaurants to open for dinner. Finally settled in at a seafood restaurant, had an expensive and gross dinner, which Taiyo still slept through, then had to wake him up for a ride back to the hotel, which he whined through. I asked him if he wanted to go down at the lounge to have a bite, but he wanted to order in. So we get a room service, and sat in front of the big TV for the evening. Next morning we had to get up super early to catch our returning flight. I said, "we are going home today," and Taiyo said, I swear, "I can't wait." I wanted to shoot myself. Then of course the security people gave me hard time at the airport because Taiyo was asleep. The lady at the check point told me to hold him away from my body like a teddy bear. I said, "I can't. He's 35 pounds!" Seriously, I'm not strong enough to hold the sleeping boy, plus, they think I'm hiding a bomb under my kid? Well, somehow we made it back, and he made me take a long subway ride home since he hates taxis. We made it back safely, and we survived our first vacation. Now the joke is that when he misbehaves, I threatens him, "I'm going to take you for another vacation!" Then he says, "NOOOOOO!" and does what I ask him to do.

Child development is not linier, I'm learning. Lately Taiyo has been regressing it seems, having more tantrums, being needy and demanding, protesting potty training, etc., etc... On Sunday we went for another play at New Victory Theater, and I thought it was just the perfect cute musical for him, at the front seat where we can peek down at the musicians in the orchestra pit and everything, but again he insisted sitting on my lap instead of his seat. The play, Lucky Duck, was lovely and fun, even for adults, but he began to freak out one hour into the show- the last fifteen minutes was plain hell for me with him complaining for nothing on the floor by my feet. I was so fed up at the end of the show and wanted to go straight home, but of course he wanted to eat something. We ended up at Sapporo on 49th Street.

Of course he would not protest against ramen and gyoza. The restaurant was still busy with lunch crowd at 2pm and we had to wait for a table for ten minutes, and service was a bit slow but accommodating for a little person. I thought the food was mediocre but Taiyo still loved the gyozas, which he only eat the skins, and noodles! The waiter was courteous and friendly, and there were other plenty small diners around, and overall it was very nice. Fairly recommended.

Pear trees began to bloom everywhere, only a few days after the passing of my dear old cat Coco. It was only two weeks before her 22nd birthday, and three months before our anniversary of living together. She was deteriorating past few weeks, eating less, and I was buying more and more expensive cat food, but nothing helped. The last thing she ate was a little bit of tuna last Wednesday. Next day she was hardly able to drink water. She was quickly fading. I still kept opening more cans of cat food. Different plates lined her drinking water. She touched nothing. Friday morning, she couldn't get up any more. I alerted my staff that I have to close the restaurant for two days. In the afternoon, she quietly went while I was taking care of some things downstairs. When I went up and touched her body stretched on the couch, the body was still warm. Next day, we took a long walk to take her to Dr. Moscovich on 11th Street to have cremation arranged. He was her first vet since my first apartment in NYC was on 10th Street. So I passed our first apartment, where we played so much running up and down the stairs, chasing a ball, or chasing each other. So she was with me past 22 years, almost all of my days in this town, and she was always there. With Taiyo, the apartment doesn't feel so empty, but it is just so strange not to hear her meow or footsteps anymore. Actually I still hear her. I will for a long, long time.

Arrival of Daylight Savings Time totally doesn't help alter this toddler's New Yorker lifestyle. Taiyo now easily sleeps past 11am. Some mothers may envy that, but that means he's up past midnight! It gives me less of my personal time. On Sunday we attended "Shorts for Tots" program at New York International Children's Film Festival. The theater was full of bubbly tots, sometimes screaming and crying. Taiyo sat so quietly on my lap through the film. The night before, he sat through "Princess Mononoke," animated Hayao Miyazaki feature, which is two hours and fifteen minutes. It wasn't even a kids' movie either. The story was quite complex and deep, but he refused to stop, even during the end credit. So this beautiful and quirky mix of short films was easy to digest for him. We saw some wonderful films that we may never see otherwise.

After the movie Lynne brought us to a hidden gem in NoLita, Prince Street Cafe. It looks like a tiny place with a few tables from the street, and with a big step up from the street level, I would've never gone there with Taiyo and a stroller. But the floor actually extends to the back of the building, a quiet bright room with skylight. Nice selection of salads, sandwiches, burgers and pasta would be easy to accommodate anyone. Our choice was Butternut Squash Soup and Prosciutto Panini. First Taiyo went right to a Blueberry Muffin. Then soup arrived and first taste made him laugh. Then he had at least the half of Panini. Eventually the group at the next table left and Taiyo had the whole length of cushy bench to walk back and forth! I was getting a bit nervous after he took maybe five trips, but waitress only smiled at the sight. In some other restaurant he may be advised to sit down. It was very nice place to eat with a little person. Recommended.

It was another summer-like day on Wednesday, and we stopped at 'inoteca on Rivington and Ludlow. This hipster joint had all the side panels open, and it was fairy empty for late lunch. They are usually crowded for dinner or weekend brunch, but this seemed a perfect timing for us. We went to the bathroom to wash hands but it was so dark Taiyo was not happy. I was not happy not being able to see how sanitary the environment was. Back to the table, we were thinking of pasta, but they didn't have any. So we went for beets salad with pecorino, oranges, and hazelnuts, and prosciutto and mozzarella panini. Immediately Taiyo knew he loved the panini when it arrived. I cut him a piece, and he carefully dipped it into tomato sauce, and started munching. I kept cutting him a piece off the Panini and he pretty much ate the whole plate. He tried some hazelnuts from the salad, and he liked them, but Panini was the winner; he didn't even care for oranges on the salad. Service was quick and friendly, and Taiyo got a glass of water with a straw. Food was wonderful and fresh, we loved the laid back atmosphere of Wednesday afternoon, but probably best for weekday lunch with a small one. Recommended, especially for the food.